Stopping mechanism for plunger-elevators.



No. 388,515. PATENIIBD MAY 26, 1908. T. LARSSON.

STOPPING MBGHANISM F0R-PLUNGBR ELEVATORS.

APPLIGATI-[ON FILED SEPT.25,1902. RBNBWED DBO.'7, 1904.

UNITED/STATES PATENT oFFroE.

THURE LARSSONJOF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, WILLIAM E` D. STOKES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND FRED A. JONES, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STOPPING MECHANISM FOR PLUNGER-ELEVATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 190s,

Application led ptember 25, 1902, Serial No. 124,737. Renewed December 7, 1904. \Seria1No. 235,88i.

.are directlyr actuated by vertically moving pistons or plungers. A

The especial object of this invention is to provide a strong, simple, and ellicient construction for stopping the elevator cars at the ends of their runs.

The invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective viewof'sulhcient parts of a plunger elevator to illustrate the application of my invention thereto, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of parts Within the plunger casing, Fig. 3 is a similar View illustrating a modified form of construction, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

In an elevator of that classto which this invention relates, the elevator car is moved up` and down by a piston or plunger which runs down into a casing set into the ground.

The water supply'is admitted near theto of' the plunger casing, and the operation o an elevator of this class has heretofore. only been controlled by a main-valve, which admits water to the casi-ng when the elevator is to be raised,and 'which permits water to escape from the casing when the elevator is to descend. To stop the elevator at the ends of its run, the stopping connections .which have heretofore been employed in this class of constructions, have been arranged to Yoperate the controlling valve. That 1s to say,.in the ordinary constructions of this class, the hand controlling rope or other connection fromthe elevator car has heretofore usually been provided with stops or abutments for auto-l matically closing the valvel as the elevator approaches the lendsof its run. The ef- `iciency of these stopping connections as heretofore constructed, has been entirely dependent upon an automatic'lcontrol of t 1e valves, and in case the valves are rendered inoperaf tive for any reason, elevators of this class are liable to be carried up so that the end of the plunger will be driven up out of its casing, or, in some cases, the elevator car will not be properly stopped at' the bottom of its run.

The especialobject of this invention is to provide a construction .for automatically stopping a plunger elevator which does not epend upon the operation of the controlling valve.

To accomplish this object, an automatic vstopping mechanism for a plunger elevator constructed according to this invention, comprises shut-oil connections inside the plunger casing. These shut-off connections are preferably arranged to move up and down with the plunger, and are controlled by the travel of the elevator car, so that when the car reaches the top of its run, the water pressure will be automatically cut ofi', and the .motion of the car arrested withoutdepending upon the operation of the supply valve. The same connections are also preferably employed for stopping theelevator car at the bottom of its run, although, if desired, additional stopping connections may be employed for bringing the car to rest when it reaches its lowest position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for adetail description of a stopping mechanism constructed according to this invention, as shown in Fig. 1, A designates the elevator car, B the plunger, and G one of the uides which runs upon a vertical way W as t e car moves up and down. These parts may be of any of the ordinary or approved constructions,. and need .not be herein described at length.

Bolted to or otherwise secured to the Way W is a track 10, and running on the track 10 is a grooved wheel 11 journaled on a stud carried by an arm 12 extending up fromv a 14. kAt its lower end, the plunger B is pro ilo Y rod extending up inside the above the ports 15.

.its normal lifted position by springs 17, said 30,

v tion which will vided with a piston P, and before the pressure will be ladmitted to act on the under side of the piston P the water must pass through ports 18l and down through the' inside of the lunger; The ports 18 are normally o ened but may be closed by slides 19 carrie by a I plunger. The rod 20 passes through a stuffing-box 21 up through a pipe or sleeve, and is connected at its upiper end to an arm 22 extending in to.

theinsi e of the plunger from the rock-shaft By means of this construction when the elevator car approaches the .top of its run the ports 18 will .be automatically closed, preventing the passage of water below the piston P, and automatically bringing the car to rest. In the same manner, when the car is descending and approaches the bottom of its run, the ports 18 will be closed, and the flow of water out through the ports 18 willbe stopped so as to also bring the elevator ear to rest.

-In some cases, 1t 1s desirable to provide an z additional stopping mechanism forstopping the car at the ottom of its run, and this may -be done by providing a sleeve 16 having a plunger at its lower end normally standing The sleeve 16 is held in parts being arranged so that when the ear enages the upper .end of the sleeve, it will oree the same down against the spring 17 to close the ports 15, providing an additional means for bringing the car to rest at the bottom of its run. In some cases, instead of having the stopping ports covered by slides, itis desirable to rovide a form of construce more positive in action. This can be done by providing conical valveseats and conical valves which shutoff the pressure, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

As shown in Fig. 3, the slotted track 100 is provided with oppositcly curved ends 23am] 2 4. Running in the slot of the track 100 is a stud carried by the arm 12 of the rock-shaft 13, so that by means of this construction when the elevator reaches the top of its run, the rock-shaft 13 will be turned in one-direction, and when the elevator reaches' the bottom of itsrun, the rock-shaft 13 will be turned in the opposite direction. Extending in 'from the rock-shaft 13 is an arm 22 connected to the operating rodfZO, which is provided at its lower end with conical valves 25 and 26.

The pistonP at the lower'V end o1 `the plunger is provided with a central passage' 27 for receiving the conical valves 25 and 26, as the ycase may be, to close the ports 28, said valves' closing with the pressure so as to Iform a more erfect shut-off than in the cd'nstruction il ustrated in Fig. 2.

I am aware that numerous other changes may be made in practicing my invention by those who are skllled in the art, without dcparting from the scope thereof as expressed in theclaims. I do not Wish, therefore, to be limited to the constructions I have herein shown and described, but

What I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination with acylinder and plunger, of a stuffingbox through which the plunger passes, an enlarged portion on the end of` the plunger having water passages, la valve for closing said passages, and a valve stem adapted to be operated from Without the cylinder and plunger.V 1

2. In'a hydraulic elevator, the combination of-a casing, a plunger, a ear secured to the plunger, means for admitting and exs hausting water to the annular space between the casing and plunger to act on the end of the plunger, a valve mechanism carried by the plunger, andlmeans extending out through the plunger to actuate the valve mechanism.

3. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the casing, a plunger tted in the top of the casing, a'car-carried by the plunger, means for admitting \and exhausting water to the annular space between the casing and plunger to act on the end of the plunger, a valve mechanism mounted at the lower end of the plunger, and means extending out through the plunger for actuating the valve mechanism,

4. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the casing, a plunger tted in the top of the casing, a car carried by the plunger, means for admitting and exhausting water to the space between the casing and plunger to acl on the end of the plunger, 'a piston or enlargement carried by the plunger at its lower end, a valve mechanism carried by the plunger, and means extending out through the plunger for actuating the valve mechanism.

5. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of a casing, a plunger fitted in the top of the casing, a piston or enlargement secured to the lower end of the plunger, a valve mechanism for controlling the llow, and means extending up through the plunger for actuating the valve mechanism.

6. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the easing, a plunger fitted in the top of the casing, anar carried by the plunger, means for admitting or exhausting water to the top of the casing down around the plunger to act on the end of the plunger, an enlargement or piston carried by the end of the plunger, a valve mechanism carried by the plunger for controlling thellow through or past said enlargement or piston, and means extending out lbeyond the plunger fc3) actuating the valve mechanism.

7. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of a casing, a plunger fitted in the top of, the casing, means for admitting or exhaustlaround the plunger to act on the iiigwater to the top of the casing end ofthe plunger', an enlargement or piston carried by the end of the plunger, a valve mechanism carried by the plunger for controlling the llow, and a valve actuating rod extending up .through the plunger to the car. 1

8. Iii a hydraulic elevator, the combination oi' a casing, a plunger iitted in the top of the casing, an enlargement or piston carried by the end of the plunger, ports formed therein, a valve mechanism controlling said 10. In a hydraulic,elevator, the combination of an elevator car, a direct acting plunger connected therewith, a valve mechanism carried by the plunger for controlling the flow of Water to act on the underside ofthe plunger, and means for automatically operating` -said valve mechanism to stop the car.

11. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of an elevator car, a direct acting plunger connected therewith having a piston at its lower end, and ports for admitting water` through the inside ol' the plunger to act on the underside of the piston', and means for automatically controlling said ports to stop the car.

12. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination ofA anv elevator car, a diiect acting plunger connected therewith,v a valve mechanism, an operating rod therefor carried by the plunger, and means l'or shifting the actuating rod to close the valve mechanism and stop the car at the ends of its run. i

13. ln a hydraulic elevator, the combination 0l' the elevator ciu', a direct acting plunger connected therewith, with a piston at its lower end, ports l'or admitting water'tlii'ough the inside a valve mechanism controlling/said ports,

and an operating rod to close the valve mechanisni and slop the caiv at the ends 14. In hydraulic elevator', the combination of the elevator car, the direct acting plunger connected tlicrewith. a vertical track,

ot' its ruin ol' the plunger'to act on the piston,

my hand', in the down a sliding-piece running thereon, and connections'extending down inside of the plunger for automatically shutting off the water to stop the car at the ends ofits run.

15. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of 4the elevator car, the directacting plungerconnected therewith, means for shutting oii" the water to stop the carat the ends of its run, and operating connections therefor extending up insideof the plunger.

16. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the elevator plunger connected therewith, and having a piston at' its lower end, ports for admitting Water through the inside of the Aplunger to act on the underside of valves for closing said ports, an operati rod extending up inside the plunger, a sliding pieceor wheel connected'to operate said rod, and a vertical track having inclined portions the piston, shut-offl car, the direct acting at its ends for automatically stopping the car at the ends of its run.l

17. In a hydraulic elevator, the combinal tion of the elevator car, a plunger casing having ports near its upper end for admitting the water supply thereto, a plunger mounted in said casing, and directly connected to the elevator car, and a slide arranged to be forced" down to close the ports when the car reaches the bottoni of its run.

18. In a hydraulic elevator, the combination of the elevator ear, the plunger-casing having ports near its upper end foradinitting the supply of water thereto, and a springsupported sleeve, said parts being arranged so that the spring-supported sleeve will he forced down to cover the poi'ts when the cai' reaches' thc. bottom of its run.

19. ln a hydraulic elevator, the :oin'oination of the elevator cai', a plunger-casing havi ing ports for admitting the water supply near its upper end, a valve mechanism located within the plunger casing and having connections tor automatically stopping the car at the ends of its run, and a vertically movable slide loi covering the ports-,near the upper end ol' the casing to provide additional means for stopping the car at the bottom of its run. In testimony whereof l have hereunto set presence ol' two subscribing witnesses. 'Y

. 'lllUItE LARSSDN. Vllitnesscs:

liiuii `Sovriicii'ri., 

